'Never-ending' rain in the UK is now '10 times more likely' says weather study

"Never ending" rain in the UK in autumn and winter has been made 10 TIMES more likely by the climate crisis, a study found. The washout winter we experienced in the UK last winter and last autumn was made 10 times more likely - and 20 per cent wetter - by climate factors.

Winter downpours will occur every three years without urgent carbon cuts, experts have today warned. The analysis, released today (on Wednesday May 22), was conducted by climate scientists working as part of the World Weather Attribution group.

“The seemingly never-ending rainfall this autumn and winter across the UK and Ireland had notable impacts,” said Dr Mark McCarthy, a climate scientist at the UK Met Office and part of the WWA team. “In the future we can expect further increases – that’s why it is so important for us to adapt to our changing climate and become more resilient.”

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Dr Sarah Kew, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and also part of the WWA team, said: “The UK and Ireland face a wetter, damper and mouldier future due to climate change. Until the world reduces emissions to net zero, the climate will continue to warm, and rainfall in the UK and Ireland will continue to get heavier.”

Dr Ellie Murtagh, the UK climate adaptation lead at the British Red Cross, said: “We know flooding has a devastating impact on people’s lives. Its effects can be felt for months and years afterwards. The level of implementation of adaptation interventions is still sorely lacking.

"Independent assessments in both the UK and Ireland have highlighted the lack of progress.” Dr Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-founder of WWA, said: “To put it bluntly, climate change is already making life shittier. Wetter winters are flooding farms, cancelling football matches, overflowing sewage systems and [making] groceries more expensive.

“Thankfully, we know the solutions. Replace oil, gas and coal with cleaner, cheaper renewable sources of energy; insulate homes, and restore nature. All this will make life cheaper and better for all, not more expensive.”